An image processing apparatus reads an original by R, G and B sensors and a monochromatic sensor, and includes Log conversion means for subjecting signals produced by the reading to Log conversion. When two-color printing is performed, Log conversion parameters are individually set for one of signals produced by the reading of the R, G and B sensors and for a signal produced by the reading of the monochromatic sensor.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a first sensor configured to convert reflective light from an original to a red signal, a green signal and a blue signal; a second sensor configured to convert the reflective light from the original to a monochromatic signal; a selector configured to select a color signal which is one of the red signal, the green signal and the blue signal; an image signal processor configured to generate two signals from the monochromatic signal and the color signal without using the other two of the red signal, the green signal and the blue signal than the color signal; and a printer configured to print an image based on the two signals, wherein the image signal processor includes: a first converter configured to perform conversion to enhance color extraction precision of the color signal selected by the selector; a second converter configured to perform conversion to give priority to tone characteristics for the monochromatic signal produced due to the conversion by the second sensor; and a density converter configured to perform density conversion for the monochromatic signal converted by the second converter, in accordance with a signal level of the color signal converted by the first converter.
2. An image forming apparatus comprising: a first sensor configured to convert reflective light from an original to a red signal, a green signal and a blue signal; a second sensor configured to convert the reflective light from the original to a monochromatic signal; a selector configured to select a color signal which is one of the red signal, the green signal and the blue signal; an image signal processor configured to generate two signals from the monochromatic signal and the color signal without using the other two of the red signal, the green signal and the blue signal than the color signal; and a printer configured to print an image based on the two signals, wherein the image signal processor includes: a first converter configured to perform conversion to enhance color extraction precision of the color signal selected by the selector; a second converter configured to perform conversion to give priority to tone characteristics for the monochromatic signal produced due to the conversion by the second sensor; a density converter configured to perform density conversion for the monochromatic signal converted by the second converter, in accordance with a signal level of the color signal converted by the first converter; a discriminator configured to perform discrimination between a character and a photo, with respect to a density signal produced by the density conversion of the density converter, in accordance with the signal level of the color signal; and a filter configured to perform a filtering process for the density signal produced due to the density conversion by the density converter, using a filter parameter corresponding to a discrimination result of the discriminator and the signal level of the color signal.
3. An image forming apparatus comprising: a first sensor configured to convert reflective light from an original to a red signal, a green signal and a blue signal; a second sensor configured to convert the reflective light from the original to a monochromatic signal; a selector configured to select a color signal which is one of the red signal, the green signal and the blue signal; an image signal processor configured to generate two signals from the monochromatic signal and the color signal without using the other two of the red signal, the green signal and the blue signal than the color signal; and a printer configured to print an image based on the two signals, wherein the image signal processor includes: a first converter configured to perform conversion to enhance color extraction precision of the color signal selected by the selector; a second converter configured to perform conversion to give priority to tone characteristics for the monochromatic signal produced due to the conversion by the second sensor; a density converter configured to perform density conversion for the monochromatic signal converted by the second converter, in accordance with a signal level of the color signal converted by the first converter; a discriminator configured to perform discrimination between a character and a photo, with respect to a density signal produced by the density conversion of the density converter, in accordance with the signal level of the color signal; a filter configured to perform a filtering process for the density signal produced due to the density conversion by the density converter, using a filter parameter corresponding to a discrimination result of the discriminator and the signal level of the color signal; and a print color designator configured to designate print colors to the density signal filtered by the filter, on the basis of the discrimination result and pre-designated print color designation information on two colors.
4. An image forming method comprising: converting reflective light from an original to a red signal, a green signal and a blue signal; converting the reflective light from the original to a monochromatic signal; selecting a color signal which is one of the red signal, the green signal and the blue signal; generating two signals from the monochromatic signal and the color signal without using the other two of the red signal, the green signal and the blue signal than the color signal; and printing an image based on the two signals, wherein the generating the two signals includes: performing first conversion to enhance color extraction precision of the selected color signal; performing second conversion to give priority to tone characteristics for the monochromatic signal produced; and performing density conversion for the monochromatic signal converted in the second conversion, in accordance with a signal level of the color signal converted in the first conversion.
5. An image forming method comprising converting reflective light from an original to a red signal, a green signal and a blue signal; converting the reflective light from the original to a monochromatic signal; selectin g a color si al which is one of the red signal, the green signal and the blue signal; generating two signals from the monochromatic signal and the color signal without using the other two of the red signal, the green signal and the blue signal than the color signal; and printing an image based on the two signals, wherein the generating the two signals includes: performing first conversion to enhance color extraction precision of the selected color signal; performing second conversion to give priority to tone characteristics for the monochromatic signal produced; performing density conversion for the monochromatic signal converted in the second conversion, in accordance with a signal level of the color signal converted in the first conversion; performing discrimination between a character and a photo, with respect to a density signal produced by the density conversion of the density converter, in accordance with the signal level of the color signal; and performing a filtering process for the density signal produced due to the density conversion, using a filter parameter corresponding to a discrimination result and the signal level of the color signal.
6. An image forming method comprising: converting reflective light from an original to a red signal, a green signal and a blue signal; converting the reflective light from the original to a monochromatic signal; selecting a color signal which is one of the red signal, the green signal and the blue signal; generating two signals from the monochromatic signal and the color signal without using the other two of the red signal, the green signal and the blue signal than the color signal; and printing an image based on the two signals, wherein the generating the two signals includes: performing first conversion to enhance color extraction precision of the selected color signal; performing second conversion to give priority to tone characteristics for the monochromatic signal produced; performing density conversion for the monochromatic signal converted in the second conversion, in accordance with a signal level of the color signal converted in the first conversion; performing discrimination between a character and a photo, with respect to a density signal produced by the density conversion of the density converter, in accordance with the signal level of the color signal; performing a filtering process for the density signal produced due to the density conversion, using a filter parameter corresponding to a discrimination result and the signal level of the color signal; and designating print colors to the filtered density signal, on the basis of the discrimination result and pre-designated print color designation information on two colors.
7. An image processor for providing two color signals to a printer, comprising: a first sensor configured to convert reflective light from an original to a red signal, a green signal and a blue signal; a second sensor configured to convert the reflective light from the original to a monochromatic signal; a selector configured to select a color signal which is one of the red signal, the green signal and the blue signal; and an image signal processor configured to generate two signals from the monochromatic signal and the color signal without using the other two of the red signal, the green signal and the blue signal than the color signal, wherein the image signal processor includes: a first converter configured to perform conversion to enhance color extraction precision of the color signal selected by the selector; a second converter configured to perform conversion to give priority to tone characteristics for the monochromatic signal produced due to the conversion by the second sensor; and a density converter configured to perform density conversion for the monochromatic signal converted by the second converter, in accordance with a signal level of the color signal converted by the first converter.
8. An image processor for providing two color signals to a printer, comprising: a first sensor configured to convert reflective light from an original to a red signal, a green signal and a blue signal; a second sensor configured to convert the reflective light from the original to a monochromatic signal; a selector configured to select a color signal which is one of the red signal, the green signal and the blue signal; and an image signal processor configured to generate two signals from the monochromatic signal and the color signal without using the other two of the red signal, the green signal and the blue signal than the color signal, wherein the image signal processor includes: a first converter configured to perform conversion to enhance color extraction precision of the color signal selected by the selector; a second converter configured to perform conversion to give priority to tone characteristics for the monochromatic signal produced due to the conversion by the second sensor; a density converter configured to perform density conversion for the monochromatic signal converted by the second converter, in accordance with a signal level of the color signal converted by the first converter; a discriminator configured to perform discrimination between a character and a photo, with respect to a density signal produced by the density conversion of the density converter, in accordance with the signal level of the color signal; and a filter configured to perform a filtering process for the density signal produced due to the density conversion by the density converter, using a filter parameter corresponding to a discrimination result of the discriminator and the signal level of the color signal.
9. An image processor for providing two color signals to a printer, comprising: a first sensor configured to convert reflective light from an original to a red signal, a green signal and a blue signal; a second sensor configured to convert the reflective light from the original to a monochromatic signal; a selector configured to select a color signal which is one of the red signal, the green signal and the blue signal; and an image signal processor configured to generate two signals from the monochromatic signal and the color signal without using the other two of the red signal, the green signal and the blue signal than the color signal, wherein the image signal processor includes: a first converter configured to perform conversion to enhance color extraction precision of the color signal selected by the selector; a second converter configured to perform conversion to give priority to tone characteristics for the monochromatic signal produced due to the conversion by the second sensor; a density converter configured to perform density conversion for the monochromatic signal converted by the second converter, in accordance with a signal level of the color signal converted by the first converter; a discriminator configured to perform discrimination between a character and a photo, with respect to a density signal produced by the density conversion of the density converter, in accordance with the signal level of the color signal; a filter configured to perform a filtering process for the density signal produced due to the density conversion by the density converter, using a filter parameter corresponding to a discrimination result of the discriminator and the signal level of the color signal; and a print color designator configured to designate print colors to the density signal filtered by the filter, on the basis of the discrimination result and pre-designated print color designation information on two colors.
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December 1, 2008
October 11, 2011
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